UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website https://www.unicef.org/ to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

How can you make a difference?

The Service Contracting Centre (SCC) is part of UNICEF Supply Division. Established in 2017 to bring efficiencies and improve compliance by leading the procurement of services for diverse category of services across all Headquarters Divisions/Offices & becoming source of expert knowledge and resources in the various categories of services. The Procurement Assistant will assist in the contracting of services for a selected portfolio of services (Specifically in the domain of Communication & Information Technology) in support of Head Quarters Divisions/Offices. The role will be providing effective services to customers, ensuring accurate and timely processing of requisitions and requests up to the completion and closure of the contracts, with the overall goal of meeting the needs and requirements of the customers.

Under the supervision of the Contracts Officer (P-2), ICT Goods, the Procurement Assistant provides a broad range of transactional, procedural and administrative tasks in support of service contracting activities in ICT related areas including software subscription solutions, connectivity and communication services, data center, cloud-based services, apps/tools development and enhancements (including web, data and mobile apps), digitization services, hardware and ICT equipment, carried out by Head Quarters Divisions/Offices, ensuring timely and efficient output that is in compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and also to recommend improvements to process delivery and design.

At the GS-5 level, the below tasks are expected to be carried out with a high level of independence.

Key functions and related duties/tasks:

Prepares and analyzes data on past and present procurement transactions to determine the appropriate procurement strategy for different Service Categories, including collaboration with other UN agencies;
Support planning through coordination with UNICEF Headquarter Divisions as well as provide support to Divisions through the requisitioning stage;
Reviews incoming requirements from Divisions and Offices in coordination with Supply Division’s Contracts Officer/Manager for appropriateness and completeness of ToRs and other required documentation to ensure quality and adequacy of information;
Drafts and prepares Requests for Proposals, and coordinates evaluation of proposals with Divisions and Offices, ensuring procurement processes are conducted in a timely manner with transparency and fairness, promoting competition to achieve value for money;
Assists with preparation of Contract Review Committee (CRC) submissions using an electronic CRC tool;
Draft and issue Contracts, ensuring Contracts are signed in a timely manner and all documentation is properly filed. Monitors and follows up on progress of Contracts ensuring proper contract management is followed, and contracts are fully implemented. Coordinates required amendments to contracts and the evaluation of suppliers with respective contract managers, and ensures contracts are closed in Vision;
Drafts and issue LTAS for services. Monitors the use of LTAS in accordance with LTA guidelines, and follows up on performance issues, as well as required amendments and extensions;
Keeps Contracting Dashboard as well as other information management systems updated with contractual information, to be able to prepare reports and report on progress of contracting processes;
Maintains filing in accordance with UNICEF guidelines;
In collaboration with supervisor and Contracts Manager, provide input to help ensure knowledge exchange and learning is prioritized to continuously build capacity of individuals and the team. Develop and facilitate training of newcomers, provide inputs towards establishment of processes or manuals to support effective workflows.
Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor and Contracts Manager.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completion of secondary school education is required, supplemented with courses/certifications in business administration, supply chain management and procurement, contract/commercial law, Information Technology or related relevant technical field.
Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible supply-related work experience (procurement/ contracting, supply) is required. Experience with service contracting is an advantage.
Skills: Strong computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SAP.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
Familiarity with UNICEF, UN Supply procedures and systems is advantageous.
Good knowledge of the latest trends in procurement and contracting of information technology services and products for public sector or international organizations is strongly desirable, including for cloud services, software subscription solutions (saas, iaas), connectivity and communication services, data center, cloud-based services, apps/tools development and enhancements (including web, data, and mobile apps), digitization services, hardware, and ICT equipment.
Awareness of cyber security risks, compliance with standard terms and conditions addressing information and data security, and related best practices are considered an asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Builds and maintains partnerships
Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
Drive to achieve results for impact
Innovates and embraces change
Manages ambiguity and complexity
Thinks and acts strategically
Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework UNICEF's Competency Framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf.

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here https://www.unicef.org/careers/unicef-job-categories.